Internal Jugular Vein Injuries

The internal jugular vein (IJV) is the major vein of the neck, transmitting ipsilateral intracranial blood towards the heart. It receives numerous tributaries, and most of these are fairly large vessels (Fig. 19.1). Because it is deeply situated, an injury to the IJV nearly always implies additional injuries to other important structures such as to the carotid artery, the vagus nerve and the viscera of the neck (the oesophagus, trachea, thyroid, larynx).